[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 13 Sep 1999
Time: 20:53:55
Remote User: -
Poison claim returns Anwar to spotlight
IAN STEWART in Kuala Lumpur
A lawyer's assertion that someone might be trying to poison Anwar Ibrahim with arsenic has thrust the jailed former deputy prime minister firmly back into the national spotlight at a time when Malaysians' interest in his situation appeared to be waning.
It brought his supporters back on to Kuala Lumpur's streets in their hundreds on Saturday, for the first time in several months.
If it is true he has been fed arsenic, this latest bizarre twist in the Anwar affair could prove damaging to the ruling National Front coalition in the impending general election.
But if the poisoning is not supported by independent evidence, the credibility of Anwar and the opposition National Justice Party headed by his wife, Wan Azizah Ismail, will be weakened.
The development has clearly dismayed the Government, which had hoped people's waning interest in Anwar would reduce his impact as an opposition symbol of alleged injustice in the coming poll.
Police have started an inquiry but the official response reflected suspicion rather than sympathy.
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was sceptical, and International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz said the timing showed it was a plot to gain Anwar attention at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting in Auckland. Ms Rafidah, who is attending the summit, is an old foe of Anwar.
Anwar's lawyer, Karpal Singh, an opposition member of parliament, announced at his client's sodomy trial in the High Court on Friday that Anwar was suffering from arsenic poisoning and someone might be trying to murder him.
He said a Melbourne pathologist's analysis of a urine sample from Anwar showed life-threatening traces of arsenic 77 times the normal level.
The trial was postponed until doctors certified Anwar fit. He is being tried on a charge of sodomising his former driver, Azizan Abu Bakar.
In April, Anwar, who claims he is the victim of a political conspiracy, was convicted of four corruption charges and sentenced to six years in jail.
Dr Mahathir said killing people was not part of Malaysia's culture.
"No one has been murdered because of his political stand," he said.
Dr Mahathir said it was possible the urine sample, which was sent to Melbourne under a false name, could have belonged to someone else. His remark could prove embarrassing if the results of the Melbourne test are confirmed.
When Anwar appeared in court last year with a black eye, Dr Mahathir said it could have been self-inflicted. The police chief later admitted he beat Anwar.